RJ Bergren brings strikeout pop and bullpen flexibility to NIU
Bergren looks like a useful pitching fit because he’s already shown real swing-and-miss ability and starter-level durability: at NIU in 2025, he made 11 starts in 16 appearances, opened with 5.2 scoreless innings and 7 strikeouts in his debut, and later punched out 10 in 5.2 innings at Kent State. He transferred in after a strong 2024 at Wabash Valley and a productive run at Loras, and his amateur track record suggests a steady competitor who can handle innings. The catch: his high school notes show room to sharpen command/consistency, so he’s more “upside with bite” than finished product.
